South Africa mourns 44 killed in mine clashes

From Victoria Eastwood, CNN

Updated 1300 GMT (2000 HKT) August 23, 2012

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Tension at South African mine – Miner Mfaseni Yekwayo, at a hospital near Rustenburg on August 18, relates to South African President Jacob Zuma, left, the events leading to the miners' clash with police.

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Tension at South African mine – A woman mourns during a memorial service for the 44 people killed at Lonmin's Marikana mine on Thursday.

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Tension at South African mine – About 600 workers stop working at the Royal Bafokeng Platinum Mine on Wednesday in Rustenburg.

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Tension at South African mine – A private security guard mans the entrance to the Marikana platinum mine on August 21 where five days earlier police opened fire on striking workers. The violence left 34 dead.

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Tension at South African mine – Miners arrive at the Marikana mine on August 21 after owners Lonmin gave striking workers until 0500 GMT to return to their jobs or face dismissal.

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Tension at South African mine – Striking workers gather on August 20 at the Lonmin-owned platinum mine in Marikana, 10 days after 3,000 miners began an illegal strike over pay.

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Tension at South African mine – Miners arrested for allegedly being involved in violent clashes between striking workers and police are escorted from the Ga-Rankuwa courthouse, Pretoria, on August 20.

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Tension at South African mine – Mark Munroe (left), executive vice president for mining at Lonmin, sits alongside the company's chief financial officer Simon Scott during a press conference in Marikana on August 20.

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Story highlights

Lonmin closes to allow miners to attend services

Some workers have resumed work following the strikes

Company officials say no incidents occurred at the mine overnight

Government officials and mine workers attend the memorial service near the site of the clashes

At the main service, traditional leaders and church officials in flowing robes led the prayers near the site of the clashes at theMarikana mine, operated by Lonmin, one of the world's largest platinum producers.

Some grief-stricken mourners fainted and had to be carried out of the ceremony by relatives and friends.

Various government officials attended the main ceremony, but police officers were notwelcome, at the request of the miners.

Of the dozens killed at the Marikana mine, 34 died in a hail of gunfire from police officers, who said they shot at the machete-armed protesters in self-defense on August 16. At least 78 others suffered injuries.

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Lonmin was closed to allow miners, some of whom have returned to work despite the strikes, to attend the memorial services. Company officials said no incidents occurred at the mine overnight.

Strikes at the mine started two weeks ago when thousands of rock drillers demanded higher wages. Lonmin rejected the demand and called the strike illegal.

Violence intensified last week when police fired live ammunition into a crowd of protesters, killing 34 people and sparking a national outcry.

The protesters, armed with machetes and sticks, defied orders to lay down their weapons, posing a threat to police officers, according to authorities.

Ten others died in the earlier days of the protests, including two police officers who were hacked to death.

A rivalry between two unions that wield a lot of power and influence in the nation added to the tension. The unions, accused of trying to outdo each other in negotiating wages, denied instigating the clashes.

The memorial service comes as workers at two more platinum companies in the northwest echoed Lonmin workers, signaling spreading labor discontent.

About 1,000 workers gathered at nearby Bafokeng Rasimone Platinum Mine on Wednesday to voice their discontent. They returned to work a day later.

"We congratulate the workers for refusing to be misled by people with political ambitions and for returning to work" said Sydwell Dokolwana, a regional secretary for the company.

Across the street from Marikana, at a mine owned by Anglo American Platinum mine, a group of workers gave management until Friday to respond to a list of demands. The company said workers have not made any threats to go on strike.

South African President Jacob Zuma addressed the miners at the Marikana site Wednesday and said he has launched a commission of inquiry to investigate the killings.

"We want the truth," Zuma said. "This is painful to all of us. It is not acceptable for people to die where talks can be held."